GITEGA July 22nd (ABP) – Burundi Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye joined the Islamic community of Gitega on Tuesday, July 20, in Gitega commune and province (central Burundi), in the celebration of the sheep festival.
The ceremonies, which took place at the Ingoma stadium in Gitega, also saw the presence of the provincial governor and the communal administrator of Gitega.
The Burundi Head of State thanked the Muslim community for the invitation sent to him on that day. He took the opportunity to praise the peaceful cohabitation that characterizes the members of the community and their various supports to the Burundi government. Witnessing the love of Muslims without any consideration, President Ndayishimiye said that a Muslim family sheltered him, in 1998, in the midst of a socio-political crisis that has mourned Burundi since 1993.
“This family welcomed me with love, to the point of giving me food, as a Christian, while they were observing the fast”, he admitted, before asking all Burundians to get inspiration from this fine example. He also praised the esteem of Muslim State officials for their high sense of morality in the management of public affairs.
“Placing a Muslim personality in the affairs of the State is not being mistaken,” he said confidently, before praising the qualities of Muslims in terms of personal hygiene and clothing. Recognizing the contribution of Muslims in building the country, Mr. Ndayishimiye asked them to get more involved in strengthening cooperative relations with member countries of the Muslim league.
Shortly before, the representative of the Islamic community of Gitega, Mr. Dismas Alizad Minani, had given the Head of State a bull to be sacrificed and gifts contained in baskets. He praised the responsible and hard-working government policy initiated by the Head of State, reassuring that the Muslim community will spare no effort for its implementation.